To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

To determine the efficiency of maintenance therapy with bortezomib in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have achieved complete remission (CR) after autologous hematopoietic stem cell (auto-HSCT), depending on the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD).

To analyze the efficiency and reproducibility of the ALL-2009 protocol within the Russian prospective multicenter study based on different principles of cytostatic effects (non-intensive, but continuous cytotoxic treatment and a small number of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells).

The morphology and immunophenotype of female colostrum adherent cells with the help of CD3, CD31, CD34, CD45, CD68, vimentin, and osteocalcin antibodies panel was studied in short-term (6—7 days) culture in vitro. Approximately equal (1 : 1) ratio of fibroblast-like and rounded cells was observed in 20 % of cultural flasks. The cells with regular shape mixed with single fibroblasts were noted in 80 % of cultural flasks. The diameter of spreaded cells varied within 10—100 mm. All cells adhered to plastics did not express CD3 and interacted slightly (sl) with antibodies to CD31, CD34, and CD45. At the same time, adherent cells with intensive CD68, vimentin and osteocalcin staining have been revealed. Literature data allows to interpret CD68+CD3–CD31slCD34slCD45sl immunophenotype of significant part of mother colostrum adherent cells as belonging to monocyte-macrophage lineage. Marked expression of stromal antigens (vimentin, osteocalcin) in 40—45 % adherent cells in cultural medium without osteogenic supplements (beta-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid, dexamethasone) proposes an existence of osteoblasts fraction differentiated in colostrum from mesenchymal stem cells under an action of breast milk humoral factors.

The increase in the concentration level of calprotectin in serum (ICP) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely associated with increased rates of acute phase of inflammation and combined with worsening of clinical and endoscopic disease activity. In the acute stage IBD concentration UPC hung on the degree of inflammatory activity, not localization. Test with the act is a highly sensitive method for assessing the degree of inflammatory activity and the effectiveness of therapy in IBD. After transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells from bone marrow and standard therapy largely reduced levels SKP than selective immunosuppressive therapy with infliximab (INFL) in patients with IBD.

Liver cirrhosis is a problem that requires new therapeutical approaches because the existing treatment is not effective enough. The most promising at present may be new treatments in the field of regenerative medicine and in particular the use stem cells. Autologous hematopoietic stem cells were injected into the celiac trunk of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Liver biopsy specimens were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against CD 34, alpha-smooth-muscle actin (a-SMA) and Bcl-2. The results showed that this approach is effective in suppression of fibrogenesis in liver and immunohistochemical methods are highly informative in assessing the effectiveness of stem cells transplantation.

To study biological (cell and anticytokine) therapy-induced changes in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

To determine place of vitamin D in prevention and treatment of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in the aspect of myocardial and renal reparation.

Presented herein are the outcomes of using autologous peripheral blood stem cells (SCs) in patients with stage II В lower limb chronic obliterating diseases (according to A.V. Pokrovsky's classification). Autologous SCs had previously been stimulated by means of the recombinant granulocytic colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for five days. On day six, we performed mobilization of the peripheral blood stem cells on the MSC+ unit by means of leukopheresis followed by intramuscular administration of half of the obtained dose into the affected extremity. The mean number of the transplanted mononuclears amounted to 6.73 ± 2.2 x 10(9) cells, with the number of CD34+ cells averaging 2.94 ± 2.312 x 10(7). Assessing the therapeutic outcomes at 3 and 6 months of follow-up showed a statistically significant increase in the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) [being at baseline 0.59 ± 0.04, at 3 months - 0.66 ± 0.04 (P=0.001), and after 6 months - 0.73 ± .08 (P=0.035)], accompanied and followed by improved measures of the treadmill test, with the pain-free walking distance at baseline equalling 102.2 ± 11.55 m, after 3 months - 129 ± 11.13 m (P<0.001), and after 6 months - 140 ± 13.11 m=0.021 vs baseline). The findings of the immunohistochemical study confirmed the development of neoangiogenesis in the skeletal muscle and a 25 percent increase in the capillary-network density following administration of autologous stem cells into the muscle. The method of transplanting peripheral-blood autologous stem cells for treatment of patients presenting with distal forms of chronic obliterating insufficiency of the lower limbs proved safe and efficient. The findings obtained during this study made it possible to recommend extending the indications for its application at the expense of patients with critical ischaemia.

To assess safety and tolerability of treatment with autologic multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in multiple sclerosis (MS), we have obtained autologic red bone marrow-derived MSC from 8 patients. Proliferation, immunophenotype and caryotype of MSC, their sterility, the absence of hemopoetic cells, chromosomal aberrations and signs of aging were controlled during the cell growth. The inverse injection of MSC in patient's blood was conducted in accordance to the elaborated protocol in a short intravenous infusion in dose 2.0 x 10(6)/kg of body mass once in 30 days. The duration of treatment was from 4 to 8 months. The efficacy of treatment was assessed after 4, 8 and 12 months. All patients tolerated repeated intravenous infusions of autologic MSC well with no significant side-effects as in the early as well in the remote periods of treatment. The distinct positive effect was seen in some cases 2 months after the beginning of treatment. The improvement of 0.5 point on EDSS was seen in 5/8 patients after 4 months. After 12 months, the improvement of 0.5-1 point on EDSS was seen in 6/8, stabilization in 1/8, progression in 1/8. These results revealed the safety of the elaborated protocol of treatment and the moderate clinical efficacy of treatment in non-curable patients or those with poor response to treatment that suggested continuing the study and enrollment of new patients.

To analyze the results of allogeneic and autologous hemopoietic cell transplantations (allo- and auto-HCT) in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from an intermediate risk group, most of which were performed using lower-intensity conditioning modes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. The study enrolled 36 children from an intermediate risk group, who had undergone auto-HCT (n = 22) or allo-HCT (n = 14) in December 1994 to December 2008. The patients' age was 0.7 to 16.6 years (median 12.8 years). Chemotherapeutic conditioning regimens were applied to all the patients. Melphalan was a basic myeloablative agent in 83.3% of cases.

To analyze the specific features of recurrences of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in children after standard therapy with daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and to develop further programmed treatment policy.

The aim of the study was to develop economically motivated decision to use MSSK therapy in patients with colitis (UC). In accordance with the intended purpose it was necessary to determine the effect of MSSK transplantation on clinical and morphological characteristics of the UC, and evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of this therapy for the patient.

Presented herein are the outcomes of using autologous progenitor cells of the bone marrow in a total offorty-two male patients suffering from atherosclerosis obliterans of the lower-limb arteries with degree II B of ischaemia according to the classification of A. V. Pokrovsky, preconditioned by involvement of the femoropopliteal-tibial segment with no possibility to perform a reconstructive operation. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study limited by a clinical approbation of the method concerned. Bone marrow was sampled from the crests of the iffac bone. Exflisate was subjected to double centrifugation to obtain the leukocytic fraction of the bone marrow, immune magnetic separation--for obtaining the CD 133+ cells. The patients were subdivided into three groups, each consisting of 14 subjects. Group One patients received autologous progenitor cells CD133+, Group Two patients were given the leukocytic fraction of the marrow (CD34+), and Group Three patients (comparison group) received normal saline as aplacebo. The preparations were administered into the muscles of the internal and external surface of the crus. The clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the Rutherford scale and demonstrated that Group One and Group Two patients given the cellular material exhibited a statistically significant improvement of their clinical condition, as compared with the findings obtained in the placebo group (P < 0.001, by the Mann-Witney test). Based on the results of the treadmill tests performed after 1, 6 and 12 months, the distance of pain-free walk was noted to statistically significantly increase in Group One and Group Two patients, as compared with those from the placebo group. The proposed method of treatment may be recommended for multicenter clinical trials.

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) of bone marrow in the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Possible therapeutic effect of systemic (intravenous) transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells was studied in experiments (C57Bl/6 mice) and pilot clinical trial. Clinical trial was performed on 11 patients with radiation-induced lung injuries developed after combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lymphogranulomatosis or breast cancer. The patients were subjected to single transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells and course of standard pharmacotherapy. The method for isolation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells was licensed. The transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells was followed by a decrease in the mortality rate of mice with radiation-induced lung injury. Clinical trial showed that cell therapy with autologous mesenchymal stem cells does not induce progression of the underlying oncological disease. Parameters of spirography, immune status, lung scintigraphy, and markers for inflammation and tissue hypoxia in the patients remained practically unchanged 1 year after the treatment. These clinical signs reflect stabilization of the radiation process.

We present our own experience of assessment of effect of cell therapy on functional state of the myocardium in patients with lowered contractile capacity of the left ventricular myocardium. Intracoronary administration of stem cells in acute myocardial infarction is a safe method of treatment. It does not cause additional damage of the myocardium and does not provoke appearance of malignant arrhythmia. Cell therapy does not affect global left ventricular function. Data we have obtained demonstrate tendency to improvement of myocardial contractile function in dynamics in the majority of studied patients, including patients of the comparison group. This most probably indicates that the given process has been caused by restoration of blood flow to surviving cardiomyocytes after transluminal coronary angioplasty and improvement of function. Confirmation of participation of administered cells in myocardial contraction and improvement of perfusion requires further clinical investigations.

Systemic transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is known to promote reparative process in a number of tissue damage as well as mucous healing one. It provided the basis for our study which was aimed to the effect of systemic transplantation of allogenic MSC (intravenous transfusion) in complex therapy of patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

To study efficacy of velcade therapy in patients with progressive or refractory multiple myeloma (MM).

We demonstrated that liquor from adult humans can maintain proliferative activity of cells of immature nervous tissue in vitro. The paper presents the results of a retrospective clinical study of the efficiency of cell therapy in the treatment of II-III degree comatose patients with severe brain injury. Cell suspension consisting of cells derived from immature nervous and hemopoietic tissues was injected into the recipient subarachnoidal space through a cerebrospinal puncture. The mortality in the study group was 8% vs. 56% in the control group. The 1.5-year follow-up demonstrated significantly better quality of life in patients receiving cell therapy in comparison with patients of the control group. Cell therapy proved to be ineffective for patients in a comatose state caused by hypoxic encephalopathy. The study demonstrated the efficiency of cell therapy in patients with severe brain injury during the acute period of the disease.